Atmosphere

This section deals with the impacts of climate change on ozone loss, which is projected to surpass that caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the upcoming decades. In addition, considering that ozone-depleting substances are also potent greenhouse gases, issues covered include those related to efforts carried out under the Montreal Protocol, notably the phase-out of CFCs, which is greatly reducing emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent and delaying climate change.

The 2015 International Energy Workshop (IEW) will take place from 3-5 June in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the workshop will focus on, inter alia: climate change mitigation and adaptation; the economics of renewable energy sources; linkages between climate, air pollution and energy security; energy and economic growth in emerging economies; and energy poverty alleviation. The workshop is aimed at researchers and practitioners in developed and developing countries, and will comprise thematic sessions, during which papers presenting results of scientific or pratical experiences on the economics of energy and climate change will be discussed.

2 February 2015: The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has released the Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2014. The annual Yearbook provides a statistical overview of the social, economic and environmental development processes in the region, to support comparative analysis of Latin American and Caribbean countries using statistical data.

The Working Group meeting of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) will take place from 2-3 September 2015. CCAC, hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), is a voluntary international coalition of partners focusing on addressing SLCPs in order to protect the environment and public health, promote food and energy security, and address near-term climate change. CCAC partners include governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The CCAC is a partner-led effort and aims to reduce emissions of methane, black carbon, and many hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in order to protect the environment and public health, promote food and energy security, and address near-term climate change. The CCAC Working Group oversees the CCAC's cooperative actions.

25 January 2015: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama have announced joint measures to boost clean energy in India and international climate action. The two sides announced their plan to cooperate together and with other countries over the next year to conclude an “ambitious” climate agreement at the Paris Climate Change Conference, scheduled to take place in December 2015.

This meeting will focus on ‘Energy, Climate and Air Quality Challenges: The Role of Urban Transport Policies in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies'. The conference will include plenary sessions on, inter alia; mitigation actions taken by cities; urban transport and climate change; financing for and optimizing benefits from low-carbon transport; and commitments and initiatives on the way to COP 21 of the UNFCCC in Paris, France. The conference is being organized by Cooperation for Urban Mobility in the Developing World (CODATU). Participants will also learn about, through field visits, Istanbul's public transport system, the Istanbul metro and a bike sharing programme.

10 December 2014: The International Energy Agency (IEA) addresses the interconnections between climate change policies and the global energy sector in its report 'Energy, Climate Change and Environment: 2014 Insights.' The report presents: ways to retire high-emission assets, such as coal plants; important lessons for designing an emissions trading system (ETS); examples of co-managing air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and trends in energy metrics.

November 2014: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released the Global Environment Goals (GEG) Live Tracker website to provide information on progress towards achieving internationally-agreed environmental goals and objectives and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The website aims to better inform decision-makers and the public on progress towards the goals and information available for monitoring them.

21 November 2014: The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves's inaugural pledging event, the Cookstoves Future Summit, raised more than US$400 million for clean cooking technologies over three years. The pledges come from a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments, UN agencies, the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and address a range of actions, including affordability and access, awareness and behavior change, monitoring and standards and technology.

November 2014: Air pollution from Europe's industrial facilities cost the region between €59-189 billion in 2012, with 1% of facilities responsible for 50% of the damage, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). ‘Costs of Air Pollution from European Industrial Facilities 2008-2012' presents damage cost estimates to health and the environment caused by air pollutants emitted from Europe's industrial facilities.

21 November 2014: The World Bank Group and Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves have teamed up to support the goal of helping 100 million households adopt clean and efficient cooking appliances by 2020. Under the 'Efficient Clean Cooking and Heating Partnership,' the World Bank has committed to mobilizing US$60 million to aid the Alliance in its work. The Partnership is a five-year endeavor that will support in-country programmes being run by both the Alliance and the Bank.

Sustainable Energy Policy & Practice is a knowledge management project for activities related to international negotiations, policy and technology news from leading international energy policy and technology organizations and institutions. It was launched in 2012 and is published by International Institute for Sustainable Development(IISD)Reporting Services, which manages and is fully responsible for the content posted on Sustainable Energy Policy & Practice.